Is the SNP an Open Party?

Continuing my correspondence in the Courier re the Secularists witchhunt against an SNP candidate who professes Christian moral views. The following letter was printed on the 14th – it is followed by my reply on the 15th…

Pick candidate who fits views

Sir, – Once again Rev David Robertson (December 9) repeats his immoderate views on secularist reactions to a MSP candidate, Sophia Coyle who is totally anti-abortion, against same-sex marriage and anti-euthanasia.

Mr Robertson has accused secularists of trying to ban any person holding religious views from holding public office. What rubbish. A candidate’s views are open to challenge especially when they are not part of their party’s manifesto.

In Ms Coyle’s very extensive list of anti-views, not one is official SNP policy but is based only on her deeply-held religious belief. Each person has a vote based on personal choice of an MSP who best fits their moral standards as well as a political choice.

If a candidate holds views that are contrary to your own then do not vote or support another candidate. This is not church against non-believers or secularism versus SNP but your democratic right to select a political representative who fits with your views.

Angus Brown.
The Orchard,
Longforgan.

Sir, – Angus Brown (December 14) accuses me of “immoderate” views because I opposed the secularist witchhunt against SNP MSP candidate Sophia Coyle and yet he repeats my position exactly: that each person has a vote based on personal choice of an MSP who best fits their moral standards as well as a political choice.
The SNP, like all mainstream political parties, has not made moral questions such as abortion, same-sex marriage and euthanasia policy issues which all their candidates must uphold.
If the SNP wish to inform those of us who are opposed to abortion, SSM and euthanasia that these are core parts of their policy which none of their candidates are allowed to have opposite views on, then so be it.They will lose mine and tens of thousands of others votes. But that is for the SNP to decide.
It is not for the secularists to tell parties who they can and cannot select, based on their own absolutist standards.
That is immoderate.